New York

Comrades V. Kokkinaki, M. Gordienko

We warmly congratulate you on the safe completion of the outstanding flight Moscow -- North America.

Your flight, covering 8,000 kilometers in 22 hours and 56 minutes, has shown that courageous and valiant Soviet pilots can successfully accomplish the most difficult tasks of world aviation.

We embrace you, wish you good health, and firmly shake your hands.

On behalf of the Government of the USSR

V. MOLOTOV. I. STALIN.

Pravda. May 1, 1939.

Note:

The nonstop transatlantic flight of the airplane "Moskva," designed by S.V. Ilyushin, with a crew consisting of V.K. Kokkinaki and M.Kh. Gordienko, followed the route Moscow -- Trondheim (Norway) -- Reykjavik (Iceland) -- Cape Farewell (southern tip of Greenland) -- Miscou Island (Canada).